Modern Vespa

Crossed off one bucket list item this month. After a stressful and depressing month of taking care of my deceased father's affairs in MD, I decided to cancel my airplane ticket and ride Amtrak back home (DC to San Antonio via Chicago), as a great way to relax for three days.

Spent three days and two nights with a roomette (sleeper berth) on the train and absolutely loved it. I was quite surprised at just how good the food was and how smooth the ride (for the most part). Met a number of very nice/friendly folks in the dining and lounge/cafe cars as well. What a great experience. I arrived home feeling relaxed and decompressed.

Anyone else have any experience Amtraking?

Back in '89, I rode Amtrak from Springfield, MA to Flagstaff, AZ via Chicago. I had a roomette to Chicago and then, boarded a different train to AZ. I went first class and had an actual bedroom with a bathroom and shower. All the meals were included and I ate in the formal dining car with waiters dressed in suits and real table ware and linen tablecloths and napkins. I had T-bone steak every night. The observation car was really a treat as you rode through some of the many scenic areas headed west. There was a Native American tour guide who gave an oral description of all the various points in the scenery.

It was very expensive. The first-class fare From Chicago to Flagstaff was $1500 over and above the normal ticket. This was in 1989.

I would do it again in a heartbeat because I love trains but I couldn't afford it today.

Most of of what you described is similar today Nightwing.

I had a roomette as opposed to a true bedroom, which meant less space and and the showers and restrooms were either down the aisle or downstairs. The bathrooms and showers were terrific (hot water, clean, great water pressure, clean towels, soap, washcloths). Car attendants keep everything pretty much spotless.

I ate amazing food all three days (which was free with my roomette). Had the "Land and Sea" each night: 12 oz. sirloin (with bernaise sauce) done to perfection, a 5 oz. lump crab and scallop cake, loaded baked potato and green beans with a spicy thai peanut sauce. Dinner included a salad and amazing fresh-baked rolls and incredible desserts. Washed everything down with coffee, Diet Coke, water and Bud Light). All is served with linens (napkins only, no tablecloths) and tableware, although the bowls and plates are now disposable (but nice) plastic.

Lunches and breakfasts weren't quite as spectacular but were just as good. Lunch came with salad and dessert as well. Dining car attendants don't dress formal nowadays, but were dressed nicely in white shirts and ties. Everyone was quite friendly and attentive.

The lounge/cafe car was great and equipped with a complete snack bar downstairs. Electrical outlets at every seat, and big, comfy seats throughout the train in all cars.

I cancelled my $171 one-way Southwest Airlines ticket for a $620 one-way Amtrak sleeper car ticket several days before departure (had I bought my train ticket three weeks in advance it would have been less).

I'd do it again in a heartbeat, and frequently at that if a little less pricey. However, coach fares from San Antonio to either St. Louis or Phoenix (Maricopa) are only $101 each way. Cheaper than airfare, but almost equivalent when you factor in you'll need to eat along the way.

A great experience, happy I did it!

I Amtrak to Seattle or Portland fairly regularly. After the amount of delays I've been hit with, including arriving six hours late one night and a few two hour stops between towns, I've gone back to the bus. When it is timely, it is a nice and somewhat scenic journey. Two things cause many delays: mudslides & the fact that Burlington Northern owns the tracks and have right of way. The train station in Olympia is miles from town on the way to Yelm and a taxi is kinda spendy for me when I arrive late and the city bus has stopped running. If that happens with Greyhound I can walk home easily.

All that said, I do enjoy it. The journey from Portland to Spokane has a ton of beautiful scenery as does the route from Seattle to Spokane though you pass through the Cascades after dark one way and just after dawn the other.

That is the case in Phoenix metro as well. Maricopa, where Amtrak stops, is a 40 mile drive from downtown Phoenix. I'd hate to pay for that cab ride.

Back in the 90's i did a around the USA trip. $300. Went to Chicago first and then thru Montana to Seattle, down the coast to LA, then did a round trip but trip to Nevada and Santa Fe. Then i went the Southern rout (AZ.NM etc back to Chicago and home. Yup all for $300. Now i didn't have a sleeping car. I just brought my sleeping bag and camped out in the dining car or lounge. Best $300 i ever spent. The whole reason that i took the train was because it went thru Glacier NTL Park. That was a PIA to get to. The trip down the coast from Seattle to LA was awesome. Also the southern route was cool They had a Native American on the train for AZ and NM. I had already worked on the Indian Reservation in both of them but it was a good refresher. Defitely do it. I doubt you can even do that anymore and if you could it won't be $300. Forgot to say it was a 5 week trip and i just checked and Amtrak does do a round trip 45 day one for $899. Not bad

If only I could find 45 free days.

I love riding trains, but I'm a bit circumspect about recommending Amrak. I'd do it anyway, but experiences have been spotty.

First ride was to Albuquerque when I was fresh out of HS to visit family friends who'd settled there. Storms had taken out a bunch of signals in Kansas so spent most of a night stopping and starting again.

Fast forward a few decades when I took ex and her kids to Whitefish to ski in February. Train was late to start, then got west of the Twin Cities where we stopped for a couple of hours in the middle of the night without heat in our car. That was a treat.

Friend of ours took the train from LA to Chicago a few years back. Can't remember the details, but it was a bit harrowing....evidenced by a homeless lady asking if she needed help after arriving. To be fair, she tends to be on the frumpy side, but still....

I'd still go back though. 8)

Just the other day I was talking with my wife about the idea of doing a train ride and after reading about Jet's trip it sounds even better.

A while back we did a 28 day cruise in the Pacific and I have no desire to repeat that! Out of the 28 days had maybe two or three that I thought were good, sure food was great on the ship but I can only stare at the same water for so long!

That said the high point of that trip had to be on Oahu when this lady showed up on a Vespa and got us a private tour of Chinatown, Thanks again Judy

I figure at least riding the train you will have some changes of views. Like I said on the ocean one wave looks like the next after the first couple of hours.

The other thing I have thought about was a river cruise if there are any in the states like over in Europe.

Here's a link to a video I made of my trip. This particular video features the Dining Car. Still in the process of making a couple more; will share them when they're finished.

Here's another video I made during my trip that features the Lounge & Cafe Car. All aboard the Texas Eagle!

We used to have inter-rail tickets here in Europe where you could go anywhere for a month for about £100. I'd do it every summer during my student days. Sure, you didn't sleep for a month but I always had a wonderful time. They seem to stop doing them for a while but I hear they're making a come back now, I even tried to encourage my younger son to try it out but sadly he just didn't seem so keen. Oh well.

Speaking about other countries....just got back from a Holland-Belgium trip a month or so ago. Took trains between Amsterdam and Bruges, and other than the too-frequent transfers, it was pretty awesome. Tracks were unbelievably smooth compared to what I recall in the U.S. The problem with Amtrak is they have to use/share freight tracks which are in questionable condition, especially for high-speed travel.

I rode the overnight train between RDU and TPA many times in recent years. I loved it. I got the roomette like. Unfortunately they took the dining car off only on the route that I ride. The food was good and the companionship of meeting the other riders was great. So, now when I ride the train very occasionally, I bring a nice poo poo platter and a bottle wine and dine in my roomette.

And, it nice to see you back.

I have done the Atlanta to New Orleans round trip many time. Slower and more expensive than air travel, but a great experience! Food is great, sleeper is comfortable, and you arrive relaxed and ready to go (unlike modern air travel which is a war zone). Waiters, attendants and staff are first class and helpful and you always meet interesting people doing the trip for the same reason. Very similar to scooter traveling-there are faster ways to go, but fun, relaxing and a bit out of the norm.

Thanks LB! It's good to be back.

I live near Boston, and it makes sense to NOT drive into New York. The cost of parking will be more than made up with Amtrak.

That being said, my wife is attending a trade show in NYC soon, and she'll probably take a bus instead of Amtrak.

My sister is afraid of flying, so when she visits my Mom on Long Island she takes the train from Dallas to New York (then LIRR the rest of the way). 3 days of hell, better her than me. Good thing she had 8 weeks off each summer as a teacher, because the round trip takes 3+ days each way.

L when i go back to the east coast i fly into Newark and then take the train into the city. Takes me to Penn station where i catch the train to Albany. Have a friend pick me up. Cheaper and the NY city to Albany train runs along the Hudson river, which is considered one of Amtraks scenic routes.

I think the last north American train I took was from Vancouver to Seattle. Had an enjoyable dinner in the dining car sharing my table with a Canadian woman who worked for Microsoft. She'd take the train up to visit friends and renew her passport.

Took the train from Fort Bend Indiana to Cairo Illinois. We changed to the main Chicago-New Orleans train in Chicago and the food was great. Getting off in Cairo wasn't (if you've ever been there you'd understand) but my uncle was at the station to meet us so we were in and out quickly.

When I worked in LA and had a court appearance in San Diego I'd often take the train. Let me do prep review on the train and not spend 3+ hours sitting in traffic. I could walk from the station to the federal courthouse. Coming back sometimes there'd be some real serious partying going on in the bar car by winners who got on at the Del Mar Race Track stop.

I like taking the train and one of these days my husband wants to take the one from Denver that goes though Glenwood Canyon. Another one on his list is the trans Canada train but that's bloody expensive.

I did Portland, OR to Tampa, FL two years ago on Amtrak. I also noticed that the food was surprisingly good in the dining car. Good scenery. Quiet nights, Plenty to time to read, I enjoyed it. I'm thinking about a train trip across Canada.

Anyone tried the Coast Starlight on the West Coast? They have added really nice parlor cars to each train which are available to compartment and business class passengers. Wine tastings, special dinners, movie theater, etc. I enjoyed a Portland to Sacramento trip recently.

The Empire Builder thru the North Cascades allows you to have dinner in the dining car in the National Park at sunset going East, and breakfast just after dawn going West. Pretty cool!

There is a Paddle Wheeler line that Cruises the Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee rivers. The company name is the Mississippi Queen Steamboat Company. You can check them out online. I've got that on my bucket list. Ocean cruises aren't very interesting because of 4 years living on a ship in the Navy. It wouldn't be anything new.

Everytime my wife is talking to someone about the cruise we took, she has been on a couple to the Caribbean and even won a trip to England on the QE2 before I met her, she will mention that the 28 day cruise was may first cruise and I feel compelled to correct her and say No it was my "LAST" cruise.

Now I have been on a slightly different ship that could qualify as a "cruise" a bit smaller than anything the Princess Lines would use:
https://schoonerfrench.com/

Was on that one three times in a previous life, that was much more enjoyable. Only thing I was a bit worried the first time when I found out all the food was prepared on a wood burning stove on a wooden boat!

When i went to India back in the 80's i got a Inda-rail pass. 3 weeks of unlimited train rides. Went down to Agra to see the Taj Mahal by train and then out to Calcutta and on to Darjeeling which is the highest elevational train at the time. Went from Sea Level to the start of the Himalayas. You could walk faster than the train went. It accomplished the elevation by doing switchbacks. I HATE spellcheck

Indian trains are a treat. Would be nicer if the windows were clean so you could actually take pictures of the passing landscape. Did you enjoy a "vegetarian cutlet" on the train? All was good in Delhi, but by the time we hit the Taj my stomach was looking for a discreet place to unload. Fortunately settled down, but kept me from enjoying the sublime experience of being there. Did Delhi to Calcutta too, pretty decent ride. Howrah station was a treat though. If you hang out a bit you can see an amazing number of rats scurrying in the dim light. Never at a loss for a porter.

Have yet to do the Darjeeling line. That would be awesome. 8)

Yes, I did LA to Chicago to New York to Washington last year.

No sleeper carriage though.

Bill x

I've got another Amtrak trip scheduled for weekend after next to and from St. Louis from San Antonio. 24 hours each way with coach accommodations. I think that's about as far as I can handle without a sleeper.

Here's the funny bit. Between LA and half way across the US one of the tractor units broke so we had to call in a BNSF unit to tow us to Chicago.

By the time I got there I missed my connection to Washington so I had to go to New York to get my connection south.

3 1/2 days with no shower made me stink like a poll cat but I have no regrets.

I'd do it again.

Bill x

Call me beforehand. I'll ride shotgun.

Also stern wheeler cruises on the Columbia and Snake Rivers.

https://www.americanqueensteamboatcompany.com/river-cruises/columbia-and-snake-river-cruises/

Did the Ghan rail journey , Darwin to Adelaide, a while back. Cabins are self contained bed, shower etc. Three nights, 4 days, nearly 3,000 kilometres with excursions in major towns. Wondering through the train, hanging around the bar and lounge car, has made me look wider into rail journeys elsewhere as the experience was brilliant except for the cost. For the same price I can fly to Europe return with accommodation for the same length of time.

Sounds a lot more expensive than here in the US. Either that or you have a family member who works for an airline!

I'm guessing the train or trains you took or have taken - were Amtrak's Pacific Starlight - which runs from Seattle in the north all the way down to Los Angeles in the south, much of the route coastal and almost all of it quite scenic.

It also has a tendency to run late or be delayed for a whole variety of reasons - so being patient and flexible (on not on a tight schedule) is the best way to take it, I've found. I've taken it from southern Oregon up to Portland several times - down to the Bay Area a few times - and once all the lonnnnngggg way down to Los Angeles, which took forever but was somewhat of an epic journey.

The good news is that if you go all the way to L.A., the last stop is the iconic old Union Station in downtown Lost Angeles - which thanks to SoCal modernization, has an immense L.A. SUBWAY station directly beneath (subways? in SoCal? are you kidding?) - which lets one conveniently hop onto a number of different subway lines that will scoot you over to Pasadena, Hollywood, or numerous other points.

This photo - of the Pacific Starlight pulling into the station at Klamath Falls, Oregon, - was taken at night -

Very cool Miguel.

Ha, ha. I looked at those interior photos of Amtrak and I could just SMELL it from here. Amtrak was this poor college kid's transportation from Minneapolis back home to Montana. Back and forth for holidays and summers, a 22 hour ride, IF it was running on time. No money for the sleeping car or dining car, I barely could afford the ticket. But in those days, there was a smoking car!

I was a brand-new member of the smoking club, trying to lose that freshman 15 (gained entirely on frozen yogurt cones in the dining hall-not sure what happened, cuz it was fat-free, ha). So I proudly took my Marlboro Lights down to the smoking car and lit up, feeling real adult-like. The air was blue with smoke, so thick that you could barely see the person next to you. Probably 30 or so people jammed in a very small train car puffing happily away. Good memories.

I quit smoking after college. If it ever magically becomes healthy or I turn 85, I'm back in.

Your nose is playing tricks on you.

Smoking hasn't been allowed anywhere on Amtrak for many years. Today, the only place you can light up is on station platforms outside the train while it is stopped. They announced several times during my trip that those caught smoking on board would be put off the train.

The Ghan train is the Australian equivalent of the Oriental Express. It is on a friend of mine's bucket list. Book well in advance and there is a significant price break. I looked into it when we went to Australia a couple years ago but our dates missed the advanced booking discount by a month or we might have done it as well.

One interesting thing about some of the modern Amtrak trains - at least, the long-distance ones out on the west coast of the U.S. - is their height: they are significantly taller than the somewhat shorter trains of many decades ago, and the more-commuter oriented Amtrak trains of the east coast.

In fact, they are all basically 2-storey trains - the bottom level often being reserved for luggage, bathrooms, and occasional snack facilities, the top levels reserved for regular seating (which is often quite luxurious), for the small sleeper cabins, for larger 'observation' cars with sooooo many windows, and of course for the classic Dining Cars where you can still get served a pretty decent meal on occasion (depending on the train).

When you are standing next to the actual Amtrak train cars, they literally tower over you - in some ways its like being in a smaller mechanical version of Manhattan - but instead of brownstones and skyskrapers, you find yourself in corridors of gleaming, functional metal machinery. It's pretty cool, actually.

This picture - taken in the Amtrak station in Emeryville, also of the Pacific Starlight, making one of its Bay Area stops - gives a sense of the verticality of the train world -

My experience exactly Miguel. All cars on my train were two-story with the exception of the baggage car.

Interesting thread... Taking an Amtrak trip is one of the things I've been considering to break up the winter months.... Maybe fly to Chicago and ride to/from Albuquerque (to visit friends) or to Santa Fe... Seems like something a single traveler could do and enjoy...